Standard-unit marine condenser



Oct. 13,1925- 1,556, 97

R. L. LEACH summan UNIT MARINE CONDENSER Filed'Auz. 19, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet l L Low/m rum I INVENTOR J2 ZZZ ea c5,

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UNITED STATES RICHARD L. LEACH, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

STANDARD-UNIT MARINE CONDENSER.

Application filed August 19, 1922. Serial No. 582,976.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD L. LEACH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStandard-Unit Marine Condensers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates generally to condensers for recon'verting steaminto water, and more particularly to marine surface condensers and itconsists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

In general, marine surface condensers, of which I am aware, comprisehorizontally disposed shells or casings provided with headers at theirrespective opposite ends, the headers having removable covers and beingconnected by a plurality of tubes extending through the shells orcasings. One header of each condenser is ordinarily divided by ahorizontal partition into upper and lower compartments. The lowercompartment of the one header of each condenser is provided with aninlet for a cooling fluid and the upper compartment of the same headeris provided with an outlet. The cooling fluid, :which in the case ofmarine surface condensers, is salt water, is forced through the inletinto the header provided with the partition and passes throughconnecting tubes to the other header, then passing through tubes whichare located above the plane of the partition to the upper compartment,which upper compartment is provided with an outlet. Since salt water isordinarily used as the cooling fluid, it will be understood that theheader and the connections of the tubes with the headers of eachcondenser must be water tight. Otherwise, the operation of the condensermust be discontinued until the leak is located. In marine surfacecondensers of the character described, it is impossible to have a rigidconnection between the tubes and the headers, as the unequal expansionand contraction between the tubes and the shell of the condenser, causedby the great variations of temperature, would soon cause the tubes tobreak. Consequently, in order to form an expansive and fluid tight jointwhere the tube joins the headers, the openings in the headers for thereception of the end, portions of the tubes ordinarily are counter-boredand threaded to receive a suitable ferrule and packing. By screwing theferrule hard against the packing a fluid tight expansion joint is madebetween the header and the tube. This arrangement of ferrule and packingjoint has never been satisfactory and will never give long continuedservice without leaking. The ferrules must be tightened at shortintervals and the packing renewed often, and it is even then mostunreliable. WVhen a leak develops, the covers of the headers must beremoved and the condenser tested by filling the exhaust chamber withfresh water to find the tube that is leaking. This operation ordinarilyrequires three to six hours and of course the vessel equipped with thecondenser is at a standstill while the leak is being located and theleaky tube repaired. Vessels equipped with condensers of the characterdescribed, are for economy provided with a relatively large marinecondenser for use while the vessel is being propelled and a relativelysmall auxiliary condenser for use when the vessel is in port.

It is therefore an object of my invention to obviate the objectionalfeatures of the marine surface condenser now in use, of which I amaware, by providing a simplified arrangement in which only one header isnecessary, and in which the tubes may be rigidly soldered or fastened tothat one header and at the same time be capable of relatively greatexpansion and contraction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a condenser unit of novelconstruction which is adapted to be used alone or in association orconjunction with other condenser units, connected in parallel so thatany unit or a plurality of units of a complete condenser apparatus maybe disconnected from the apparatus as a whole when it is desired to useless than the total number of units in the complete apparatus, as forinstance,-when in port or when repair of one of the units while theother units are in operation is made necessary by leakage or for anyother cause.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a condenser unit ofthe character described which is of simplified construction and includesin the construction thereof a plurality of tubes and a header, the tubesbeing in communication at their ends with the header wherebycommunication between any one of the tubes and the header may bediscontinued.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, and the novel features of the invention will beparticularly outlined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this application in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of a multipleunit condenser apparatus embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, mainly in side elevation and partly insection of one of the units included in the apparatus exhibited in Fig.1.

Figure 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary vertical sectionthrough the unit, the View being taken substantially at right angles toFigure 2,

Figure 4; is a view partly in plan and partly in section, showing theunit exhibited in Figure 2, the section being taken horizontally througha header located at the upper end of the unit, and the inlet and ougletof the header being shown in plan, an

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section, showing cooperative portionsof the body and cover of the header.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, Ishow a plurality of condenser units U connected in parallel by an intakepipemanifold M. In the apparatus shown, the intake manifold M isconnected by separate conduits K with a plurality of sources of coolingfluid supply, as for instance to a main circulating pump, an auxiliarycirculating pump and a ballast pump, the specific pumps of sources ofsupply not being shown. Valves V are provided for controlling the flowof a cooling fluid from the source of supply to the intake manifold.Other valves V are provided for controlling the flow of the coolingfluid from the intake manifold to the respective condenser units U.Still other valves V are provided for controlling the flow of thecooling fluid from the condenser units U to the discharge manifold D. Itwill be apparent that any one of the condenser units U can be cut out ofcommunication with the intake and discharge manifolds and with theremaining units of the apparatus by closing the valves V and V of theparticular unit to be disconnected from the apparatus.

By this arrangement, a greater number of the units U can be utilizedwhen a vessel in which the apparatus is installed is being propelledthan when the vessel is idle, whereby the necessity of providing a maincondenser and an auxiliary condenser in a vessel, as has heretofore beennecessar is obviated.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.

2 and 4: inclusive of the drawings I have shown one of the units U ascomprising a substantially cylindrical shell or casing I which isadapted to be vertically disposed and is closed at its upper end by aheader, indicated generally at 8 and at its lower end by a lower coverplate 2. The casing I is provided with an outwardly extending annularflange 3 at its upper end upon which rests a cooperating flange 4: whichextends outwardly from the substantially cylindrical body 5 of theheader 8 at the lower end of the latter. The flanges 3 and 4 aredetachably secured together by any suitable means, such as the bolt andnut arrangements indicated at 6. The casing or shell I is formed withintegral outwardly extending annular flange 7 at its lower end adaptedto cooperate with the lower cover 2 whereby the latter can be releasablysecured through the agency of bolts and nuts 8 or the like to the casingI in such a manner as to close the lower end of the latter and toprovide a liquid tight joint or connection between the lower cover andthe casing I. In addition the lower cover 2 is preferably attached tothe flange 7 by a hinge 9 whereby corresponding bolt receiving openingsthrough the flange 7 and the lower cover 2 will register when the lowercover has been swung upwardly about the pintle of the hinge into closingrelation with respect to the case I. The lower cover 2 may have suitableintegral reinforcing ribs as at 10 on the lower face thereof, ifdesired.

The casing I is provided with a flanged outlet opening 11 at its lowerend for establishing communication between the interior of the casingand a delivery conduit 12 for conducting a liquid from the casing to anydesirable place, as for instance to an air pump, not shown. A valve 13is provided for controlling the flow of a liquid from the opening 11through the delivery conduit 12.

The casing I is shown as being provided also with a plurality of inletopenings having flanged pipe connections 14 adjacent to the upper endtherof. The pipe connections 14 are connected with Valves 15 whichcommunicate with supply conduits 16 for conducting a fluid, such assteam, from a plurality of sources to the casing I.

The header 8 includes a bottom plate 17 formed integrally with thecylindrical body 5 and constituting a cover plate for the casing I. Thebottom and the body 5 of the header are made of brass or othernon-oxidizable material and the body 5 is enlarged or flanged externallyat its upper end at 18.

A top cover plate 19, which is made of brass and has a reinforced castiron top plate 19 secured thereon by screws 19 is provided for the body5 of the header and rests upon the flange 18 of the latter, a dependingannular rib 20 on the lower face of the cover plate 19 fitting into anannular groove 21 in the upper face of the flange 18. The arrangement issuch that a fluid tight joint is provided between the top cover plate 19and the body 5. The cover is bolted to the flange 18, as indicated at22, or may be secured to the latter in any suitable known manner.

The bottom 17 of the header has a serpentine or sinuous groove 23 formedin the upper face thereof extending from a point on the inner wall ofthe body 5 to a diametrically opposite point thereon. The bend portionsof the sinuations terminate adjacent to but short of the body 5. Seriesof openings 24 and 25 are formed through the bottom plate 17, theopenings 24 being located along one edge of the groove 23 while theopenings 25 are arranged in corresponding position along the oppositeedge of the groove. With this arrangement, all openings 24 will belocated at one side of the groove 23 and all openings 25 will be locatedat the opposite side of the said groove. The openings 24 or 25 of therespective series or rows extending between adjacent sinuations of thegrooves 23 are located in staggered relation in respect to each other.Depending from the plate 17 are a plurality of U-shaped members 27, eachcomprising two tubes 26 and 28 connected by a return bend 31.

Each of the openings 24 is adapted to receive the extremity of one tube26 while each of the openings 25 is adapted to receive the extremity ofthe other tube 28 of the U- shaped tubular member. The openings 24 and25 are counter-bored adjacent to their upper ends as indicated at 24 and25 respectively, to receive a suitable packing, not shown, such as afiller of asbestos cord and a top layer of solder, whereby theconnections of the tubes 26 and 28 with the header bottom plate 17 aremade rigid and fluid tight. The tubes 26 and 28 of each of the tubularmembers 27 communicate with the interior of the header 8 at oppositesides of the groove 23 and depend in parallel relation from theirconnections with the plate 17 through the casing I and through openings29 in a horizontally disposed circular rest or spacing plate 30. Thelatter is secured adjacent to its outer edge by cap bolts 30 to aninwardly extending annular flange 3O on the casing I, the plate 30 beinglocated at a level slightly higher than that of the upper side of theoutlet 11. The return bend 31 of each tubular member 27 connects thetubes 26 and 28 of that member at their lower ends and is located belowthe level of the spacing plate 30. The bend portion 31 of each U-shapedtubular member may be formed separately from the tubes 26 and 28 thereofand then permanently secured to the lower ends of said tubes by means ofsolder or the like, so that the bore 33 of each bend portion 31 is inopen communication at one end with the bore of the tube 26 of one of thetubular members 27 while the other end of the bore 33 is in opencommunication with the bore of the tube 28 of the same tubularconnecting member. The return bond 31 has a fluid tight connection wit-heach tube. The return bends 31 may have a threaded bore 34 extending inan enlarged lower portion thereof in alignment with the tube. 26 towhich the bend is attached and in communication with the bore 33. A plug35 in threaded engagement with the bore 34 normally closes the latter. Abore 36 extends from the lower side of the enlarged portion of thereturn bend 31 to the bore 33 in alignment with the end portion 28 towhich the bend is attached. The bore 36 is normally closed by a plug 37which is in threaded engagement therewith.

The cover plate 19 of the header 8 is provided with an integraldepending serpentine or sinuous baflie rib 38 which is adapted along itslower end to fit into the serpentine or sinuous groove 23 and tocompress a pack ing 39 in the latter when the top cover 19 is bolteddown in the manner described so that a fluid tight joint is providedbetween the serpentine baffle rib 38 and the header bottom plate 17 atall points at which the latter is contacted by the rib. Moreover, theends of the rib 38 contact with the inner walls of the body 5 atdiametrically opposite points in such manner as to have a fluid tightfit therewith and to thus divide the interior of the header into twocompartments. The header cover 1919 is provided with a plurality ofoutwardly extending lugs or ears, as indicated at 40, each having anopening 42 in which fits an upstanding stud or guide bolt 41 carried byan car 43 on the flange 18 of the header body 5. The header cover thusmay be readily placed upon the body 5 in such position that the rib 38will depend within the header body in position to engage with the groove23, in th manner described.

The header bottom plate 17 is braced by a plurality of transversegirders 44 which extend between the inner side walls of the casing I.The casing I also has formed thereon external lugs 45 arranged invertical spaced relation and being adapted for engagement withhorizontal supports, not shown, whereby the unit U may be supported inelevated position, if desired. The header 8 is provided with an inlet 46and with an outlet 47. The inlet and outlet connections 46 and 47 areformed integrally with the body 5 and are located at opposite sides ofthe serpentine or sinuous baffle 38. The inlet communicates with one ofthe branches of the intake manifold M through one of the valves V andthe outlet 47 com municates through one of the valves V With one of thebranches of the discharge manifold D. Obviously, the inlet and outletconnections may be connected to any suitable conduits other than thebranches of the intake manifold and discharge manifold, respectively, asfor instance when it is desired to make use of one of the units U as acomplete apparatus.

The lower cover 2 of the casing I is provided with an opening 48 whichis threadedly engaged by tubular inlet connection 49 of a container 50.The inlet connection 49 is controlled by a cook or valve 51. Thecontainer 50 is provided with an outlet 52 at its lower end controlledby a valve or cook 53. A laterally extending outlet 54% communicatingwith the container 50 intermediately is controlled by a valve or cook55.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The steam to be condensedis admitted to the in terior of the casing I through any or all of theinlets 14 and upon contact with the U-shaped condenser members 27 isreconverted into water and passes through the outlet 11 to a desiredplace, as for instance to an air pump, for further use. It of coursewill be understood that the rest plate 30 is provided with perforations,as at 32, so that the condensate may pass freely from the space withinthe casing I above the rest plate to the outlet 11.

A cooling fluid, which in the case of marine surface condensers, is saltwater, is forced through the inlet 46 into one of the compartments ofthe header 8. The cooling fluid passes downwardly through the open upperends of the tubes 26 of the tubular members 27, which communicate withthe in take side of the header, and after passing through the tubularmembers 27 enters the discharge side of the header and passes therefromthrough the outlet 47. In the event that a leak should develop in one ofthe tubular members 27, when a plurality of the units U are being usedin an apparatus, any unit in which such leak occurs may be disconnectedfrom the other units without the interruption of service. The headercover 1)19 may then be removed and the defective tubular member pluggedor closed at the upper ends of the tubes thereof. It will be obviousthat this operation will consume but little time and that the condenserwill not be out of commission or operation for any extended period oftime as has heretofore been necessary.

In the event that it is desired to obtain a sample of the liquid withinthe casing I without interrupting the operation of the condenser, theupper valve cook 51 of the trap attached to the bottom cover 2 may beopened until a quantity of the liquid has entered the container. Theupper valve or cock 51 is then closed, the sample collected is takentherefrom as by opening the lower valve or cook 53 and the intermediatevalve or cock 55-.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other thanthat illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and I therefore consideras my own all modifications of the forms of the device disclosed herein,which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a vertically disposedsubstantially cylindrical casing closed at its lower end, said casinghaving an outlet adjacent to its lower end and an inlet at a higherlevel, a header closing the upper end of the casing, said header beingprovided with a serpentine partition extending between the sides thereofand dividing the interior of the header into two compartments, one ofsaid compartments being provided with an inlet and the other compartmentbeing provided with an outlet, and a plurality of conducting tubes ofsubstantially U-shaped formation, each of said tubes being connectedwith the header to provide communication between the two compartments ofthe header.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a vertically disposedsubstantially cylindrical casing closed at its lower end and providedwith an outlet adjacent to its lower end and an inlet located at ahigher level, a header closing the upper end of the casing, said headercomprising integral bottom and side portions and a removable coverclosing the upper end of the header, said bottom having a serpentinegroove in the upper face thereof and said cover having a dependingserpentine rib adapted to engage said serpentine groove and the sidewalls of the header to divide the latter in'teriorly into twocompartments, one of said compartments being provided with an inlet andthe other compartment being provided with an outlet, and a plurality ofsubstantially U- shaped tubes depending within the casing and having theends thereof rigidly attached to the bottom of the header in opencommunication with the respective compart ments.

3. In an apparatus of the character described a vertically disposedsubstantially cylindrical casing closed at its lower end and providedwith an outlet adjacent to its lowor end and with an inlet located at ahigher level, a header closing the upper end of the casing, said headercomprising integral bottom and side portions and a removable cov erclosing the upper end of the header, said bottom having a serpentinegroove in the upper face thereof and said cover having a dependingserpentine rib adapted to engage said serpentine groove and the sidewall of the header to divide the latter interiorly into twocompartments, one of said compartments being provided With an inlet andthe other compartment being provided with an outlet, a plurality ofsubstantially U-shaped tubes depending Within the casing and hav- 10 ingthe ends thereof rigidly attached to the cover into proper positionrelative to the 1 side walls of the header so that the ser pentine ribwill be in position to engage the serpentine groove.

RICHARD L. LEACI-L

